Youth Provides Reason for Optimism Along the Offensive Line Going Forward

News of Austin Clark's flip to Virginia Tech brings the highest rated true offensive lineman to Virginia Tech since current NFL'er Vinston Painter (per 247) and with that rating; optimism and expectations. Furthering this optimism is our recent recruiting successes, and successful conversions to the positions over the past year.

Lets look at what this offensive line is going to look like next year, assuming everybody comes back.
Our only seniors are Wade Hansen (a converted DT), and Ross Ward (a walk-on who has only seen 13 snaps in mop-up duty last season). Neither of these, I would expect, would factor into a two or three deep.

The Juniors of this class are Alston Smith (another converted DT), Jack Willenbrock (an undersized OL at 243 lbs), Adam Taraschke (who has yet to crack the depth chart), Augie Conte (A super-Iron Hokie and starter at RG), and Jonathan McLaughlin (a two year starter at both Tackles and most veteran of the group)

Sophomores are Wyatt Teller (another converted DT who has surged into the starting LG spot), Kyle Chung (a converted TE), Parker Osterloh (Current Blindside backup and the only man who looks down on Bucky), and Andrew Williams (another Walkon) ***sidenote, Teller and Chung are the youngest converted Offensive linemen, so that means the rest have all played the position in High School and were recruited to battle in the trenches.

Redshirt Freshmen of the Line (Grimes' Spear Tips if you will) are Braxton Pfaff, Eric Gallo (current backup C), Billy Ray Mitchell (Voted Best Named Offensive Lineman), Colt Pettit, and Tyrell Smith (currently at Cushing Academy), Cody Rhodes and Andrew Moras are both current walkons who may either advance as Sophs, r-Fr, or not be brought back.

Incoming Freshman (Searels' First Haul) are Austin Clark (4-stars), Mike Arnold (3-stars), and Frederick Johnson (3-stars).

Current targets include Barnabas Baning (3-star and 6-5 330 lb OT from Maryland recruited by Searels and Moorhead), Kenny Thomas (unranked 6-6 330 OT from Alabama recruited by Gray and Searels, with offers from Miss St and Louisville), Pete Seftas (2-star C from Fredericksburg recruited by Foster, no offer yet), and Marcus Pettiford (unranked OG from North Carolina recruited by Searles and Wiles)

I, for one, am excited about the future of the offensive line, provided they are developed to the level we need to get us out of this rut that has been brought about by poor recruiting and development from 2010-2011. Consider that none of those players have had any appreciable playing time on the offensive line this year. From the 2012-2014 classes, five players are in the two-deep and two of those are current starters.

The adage goes, "the best thing about freshman is that they become sophomores." That saying is completely true, especially when it comes to offensive linemen. We will have eight freshmen advance to either r-Sophs or r-Fr next year and an additional four freshmen coming in. With five r-Jr and Jr leaders, this offensive line is being built to be deep and (hopefully) reliable, so long as they develop.